Coleraine Probus Club is in good humour for Autumn session

Club President Jim Archer greets Liam Beckett, with Club Speakers Secretary, John McKegney.

Published:12:48Friday 23 September 2016

Share this article

The new session of the Coleraine Probus club started at Portstewart Golf Club with the sound of laughter when guest speaker Liam Beckett gave members a look into his life in “Sport”.

Local sporting personality Liam has an exceptional knowledge of motorcycle road racing and football. He is also well known as a BBC commentator for both sports and he regular contributor to newspapers. Liam’s early life was difficult, his father having died when he was two years old leaving his mother the difficult task of raising two sons. Liam admitted with regret that he did not enjoy school but thankfully football came to his rescue. At the age of 15 he was chosen to play for N.I. School Boys. He later played for Crusaders in the Irish League, Drogheda United in the Republic of Ireland and then back to his home club Coleraine. Here he met Jack Doherty for whom he had the highest regard, Jack’s malapropisms were legendary. Liam also recalled his eventful trip to a rain swept Monza with the late Robert Dunlop where Robert finished up in hospital with serious injuries. The whole presentation was interspersed with anecdotes and members appreciated his impersonation of Jackie Fullerton. Seldom was so much laughter heard at a Probus meeting.